The Doctor

Needed to clear his head. And there was something that he'd wanted to do for ages now.

It was probably a terrible idea, but it was quite irresistible. He padded nervously up the spiral stairs into the tower, hearts hammering, half-wanting to turn round and flee, and half-wanting to break into a run right towards the locked chamber, which stood at the top of the stairs.

He stood before that door, and fingered the handle of his sonic screwdriver nervously, steadying his breath. It'd sense if he was scared, and that might scare it in turn. The last thing he wanted to do was scare it, lest it lash out at him.

He slowly extracted the screwdriver and pointed it at the lock, squeezing the button. With a thrill of adrenaline, he heard the lock open, and the door swung gently ajar. He took a few tentative steps towards it, and rested his hand on the wood. He smelled the farm-like aroma through the gap, and gagged slightly. Before he could change his mind, he pushed it open and stepped into the webbed room.

He gasped his awe as the blood red spider came scurrying down the web to meet him, it's body as thick as a car and it's legs spanning several feet. It clicked it's pincers menacingly, yet slowed down as it approached the Doctor and sensed him in it's head.

"How's it going, matey?" he whispered, gently raising his hand. "Are ya happy up here? I hope so. I'd like to recommend she lets you 'ave a little more freedom, you know. Would that I could. Can't be done, though. You'd be in danger out there. Peasants'd take one look at ya, and they'd flamin' well kill ya. Superstitious era, you know. They'd take you for a demon, not a living being."

The spider didn't reply. Fine - whilst all animals understood him when he spoke, it was a scant few who actually replied. Even when they did, their responses were rarely of interest. With dogs, it was always food. Food, food! Feed me! Cats too. Indeed, that was all most animals thought about. But the spider blinked it's eight eyes slowly, and remained still as the Doctor edged closer, his outstretched hand shaking.

"So what are ya? Can't place the species. Heck, there's gotta be some relationship with the Racnoss, but I ain't got a clue other than that."

He held his breath as his palm finally came into contact with the spider, and it purred gently as he stroked the bristly spot above it's eyes.

"That's awright, ain't it? No need to be scared. Sorry about me mates the other day, bursting in on ya like that. You must have been terrified."

His face darkened. "My mates. Ha. I ain't so sure after tonight, truth be told..."

The spider rubbed itself against the Doctor's palm, enjoying the attention, it's deathly pincers sitting still in their sockets.

"Wish I had some food for ya," he continued, giving it a gentle scratch with his fingers. "Might be that I'll come back tomorrow, perhaps with a few leftovers from dinner. Would ya like that?"

The spider blinked.

"It's a date, then," he grinned. Then he drew his hand away. "Are you the last of your kind, little lady?"

Blink.

"Thought so. Me too. I saw it in your eyes. The sadness. The loneliness. I know it when I see it, coz I was all alone too. Fer a time. Meeting Znya changed that...but I'll tell ya one thing for sure...it gets better. I promise you, it gets better. Your not alone, darlin'. There's folk who care about you living here, and a woman who I reckon must love ya."

The spider stamped it's eight legs impatiently, and the Doctor sensed it wanted another fuss. He rested his hands on it's head, and it rubbed itself against his skin lovingly.

"Where did Romana get yer from?" he pondered. "Do you even remember? Or was you an egg?"

Blink.

"Hmm...well, I best get back ter the grindstone. I'll come back with a few treats tomorrow. How's that?"

The spider blinked, and turned around, scurrying back up the web from whence it came, nestling into a spot high up near the ceiling.

He grinned, and took his leave, taking care to lock the door behind him.